Source: South County Times

Bosnian Studies At Affton High About 20 percent of the school's students are Bosnian or Bosnian American by Jennifer Grotpeter October 03, 2014

For many, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a place far removed from life in St. Louis County, and a challenge to even find on a map, but a new class at Affton High School is trying to change that. Some might remember the violent conflict there during the early 1990s, and the resulting NATO intervention, that played across the evening news for years. Many residents of the former Yugoslav republics fled their homeland for the safety of Europe. Germany was often a first stop, and then many traveled to the United States. Thanks to the hard work of the International Institute and the availability of scholarships at local universities, the St. Louis metropolitan area is now home to roughly 70,000 Bosnians – the largest population of Bosnians in the world outside of the country itself. As this immigrant population grew, it thrived. Bosnians opened businesses and shops, and filled the south side of St. Louis with the smells of baking bread and smoking beef. They spread, too, into south St. Louis County. About 20 percent of the students at Affton High School are Bosnian or Bosnian American. With this demographic shift came a new offering within the curriculum, a senior level English class in Bosnian American Studies. Nineteen students are currently enrolled in Brian Jennings' sixth hour Bosnian Studies class. Not all of them are of Bosnian descent, but they are all strongly engaged in learning. They create class presentations on the history, culture, music and food of the region, teaching each other and learning together. They assemble diverse group projects as well. One group is trying to track down famed SLU alum and international soccer star, Vedad Ibišević, in hopes of interviewing him. Another group plans to immerse their non-Bosnian friends into the culture, visiting homes and Bosnian places in St. Louis. Another group coordinated the Affton School District's participation in the first Run4Bosnia. Affton High students Mediha Husejnovic, Arnela Gledovic and Kristin Funke raised $700 for the Run4Bosnia, which was held last month in Tower Grove Park and raised more than $6,000. "The money goes to scholarships for the under-privileged," Husejnovic said. Rogers Middle School Principal Jason Buck took first place in the run, and Affton High School Bosnian American Studies student Almedin Birdzo came in third. Funke explained her interest in Bosnian American Studies. "Affton is filled with Bosnian people, and it's important to know about your surroundings," she said. Husejnovic said she wants to learn more about the history of Bosnia. "My mom is excited about it, and she thinks it is cool that Affton is offering this class," she said.

Bosnia Memory Project Jennings' class is also participating in Fontbonne University's Bosnia Memory Project, and college credit is available through the university for some students. The project's goal is to record the experiences of survivors of the Bosnian genocide, and to collect an archive of images and text, and promote an understanding of the Bosnian American experience and identity.

Each student will find a subject – possibly a neighbor, relative or even a peer – to interview. "The Bosnia Memory Project is part of the important work that we do," explained Jennings, of Webster Groves. "The kids' work on the Memory Project is incredible. They are sitting down and listening to stories. It is historically important and meaningful." Jennings' said there has been a lot interest in the class. "The students recognize that they have been walking around with 20 percent of their classmates Bosnian and Bosnian American for years, but they don't know what that means," he said. "There's also a lot our Bosnian students don't know; families don't talk about it and the current students are a new generation, born here in America – in St. Louis. They are an established part of St. Louis now, and it's an honor to welcome them in." Jennings and his students hope to increase community involvement in the class. "We need the whole community to teach this class," he said. "It is not a class about Bosnia. It is of, by and for the Bosnian American community. We need everything, including people coming to the classroom telling us about their experience, contributing to our work with the Bosnia Memory Project." At least 20 students have already signed up for next semester. "The Bosnian community has made a permanent mark on St. Louis, so it should have a permanent place on the curriculum," he said. For more information on the Bosnia Memory Project see: http://www.fontbonne.edu/academics/undergraduate/departments/englishcommunication/bosnia_memory_project/. Anyone interested in contributing to the class can reach Jennings at 638-6330 or by email at [email protected].